Playoff Previews

Ante Up (8-5) vs Chunky Monkeys (8-5)
These two teams aren't strangers to each other in the playoffs. In fact, the two met in a tight divisional match up back in 2010 -- Roddy White, now on Ante Up, was a key contributor for the Monkeys that weekend scoring 14 pts.  This year is likely going to be very different. Ante Up is totally retooled for the playoffs after trading away an injured Lesean McCoy for Roddy White, CJ Spiller, Alfred Morris and Cecil Shorts -- despite grumbling by multiple GMs. We'll likely see White (against his old team!), Spiller and perhaps even Shorts in the line up this weekend for Ante Up. Here are the key match-ups.

QB: Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford.  Despite having been relatively quiet in recent weeks, Rodgers is still the superior quarterback here capable of putting up 40+ on any given night. Stafford has picked it up in recent weeks after a ridiculously slow start to the season.  EDGE: Ante Up

RB: Folks are projecting for Rice to line up with Spiller this week (despite the presence of Morris) who will be matched on the other side with uber-rookie, Trent Richardson and Jamaal Charles.    Both teams have power and speed and both backfields can put up points in a hurry. On the year, Ray Rice and Spiller are the #4 and #6 backs in CTDB respectively while Richardson and Charles are #5 and #10.  Ray Rice is clearly the best back here and we think that gives Ante Up a slight advantage.  EDGE: Ante Up

WR: This is where the Monkeys have shined this year.  Megatron, Julio, Wayne, Cobb and a surging Garcon likely represents the top receiving stable in the league.  Its tough to project who will start behind Megatron and Julio but its likely going to be Reggie Wayne.  Garcon has been on fire since coming back so will likely command some consideration and of course, GM Evan will also have to consider Cobb as a hedge against A-Rod.  For Ante Up, we'll likely see newly acquired Roddy White and Cecil Shorts with Lance Moore.  Shorts is coming off of a concussion so we'll have to monitor his progress.  Otherwise, with Denarius Moore getting benched last week for poor performance and Brandon Lloyd MIA all season, we don't think there will many surprises here. EDGE: Chunky Monkeys

K/DT: Ante Up has one of the best kicker / DST combos in the league with Robbie Gould and the Seahawks.  As for the Monkeys, Matt Bryant is locked in as the kicker though defense will likely be a last minute decision.  The Monkeys have streamed defenses all year and we'll likely see a new defense this week.  EDGE: Ante Up

The trade has really bolstered Ante Up for the playoff run.  While the Monkeys might be the hottest team in the league right now having scored 400+ points in the last 3 games, Ante Up will likely pose match up problems for the Monkeys throughout the weekend.   The Monkeys will need their passing game (likely much of it on SNF where the Pack are playing the Lions).  We think this will be a high scoring affair and Ante Up might just have enough to come out on top.

Philadelphia Phreaks (7-6) vs Battle Angels (6-7)
The Phreaks are back in the playoffs after a two year drought.  They were within ~10 points of securing a top seed in last week's regular season finale against the Jammers but unable to score enough points or secure a win, the Phreaks find themselves locked in a battle against the Angels in what will likely be a very intriguing match-up.

QB: This is all about old school vs new school.  The Angel's will feature Drew Brees, a guy that will certainly look to air it out while the Phreaks will counter with the all-world rookie, RGIII.  RGIII has been awesome this year.  However, Brees is the top rated quarterback this year scoring 340 pts in 12 weeks or a ridiculous 28+ pts per week.  There will be plenty of fireworks in this match up and we like the young 'un in this one.  EDGE: Phreaks

RB: The Angels greatest weakness, the running game. The Angels sole running game is Fred Jackson and he's not even a full time back.  There's no one else worth mentioning as the Angels are certainly likely to feature 4 receivers this week.  On the flip side, the Phreaks will counter a pair of rookies in Doug "Muscle Hamster" Martin and Bryce Brown.  Martin has been a top 3 back all season while Brown has been the top back the last 3 weeks ever since McCoy went out with a concussion.  The Phreaks ground game has been as good its been since the days of Clinton Portis and we like this duo to carry the load throughout the playoffs.  EDGE: Phreaks

WR: Unlike the Monkeys / Ante Up match up, the receivers in this game will be a little bit more of an adventure.  For the Phreaks, with Wallace questionable to play (depends on if Roethlisberger plays) and Desean Jackson out for the year, we will likely see TY Hilton, Jeremy Maclin and probably Chris Givens (depending on how much Ping wants to roll with Blackmon).  For the Angels, the receivers will be led by AJ, Sidney Rice and then it gets really suspicious.  The Angels have been playing Vernon Davis and Greg Jennings though neither have really done anything (or have been healthy for that matter).  There really isn't a bench either here so I suspect that these are the receivers will see this week unless the Angels make waves on the waiver wire in the coming days. EDGE: Phreaks

K/DT: Blair Walsh and the Packers DST vs Janikowski and the Giants. We love Janikowski  EDGE: Phreaks

On paper, the Phreaks have a pretty clear advantage. The Angels also just suffered a huge defeat against the Monkeys in the week prior so are likely a bit demoralized.  We think this match will be over pretty quickly - and it won't be good for the Angels.